LAKKI MARWAT: The local chapter of Wapda employees Paigham Union, Pesco division, has condemned the attack on field staff in Paharpur area of DI Khan and asked the government to arrest the attackers.

The union held a meeting here on Wednesday, which was presided over by zonal chairman Ihsanullah Khan and attended by office-bearers, including Asmatullah Khan, Yousaf Khan, Tajuddin and other workers.

The participants showed concern over the attack on Pesco employees and said that the government should ensure security to the field staff. They also assured cooperation to the wounded employees and said that the workers of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) would launch agitation if such incidents were not curbed.

Mr Ihsan told the meeting that Pesco employees were attacked and injured when they were on field duty in Paharpur area. He demanded of the Pesco chief executive to announce a financial assistance package for the wounded employees and approach higher quarters concerned of the government for provision of foolproof security to the field staff. The union’s leader also asked the police authorities to arrest the attackers.

Meanwhile, the office-bearers of Wapda hydro union locked the Pesco offices in the district headquarters complex to protest the proposed privatisation of power supply companies. The closure paralysed the routine office work besides creating problems for consumers visiting the offices. The union leaders said that Pesco employees would not allow privatisation of Wapda.

They said that power supply companies, including Pesco, had been earning profit and the government should refrain from selling these units.

LOADSHEDDING: The residents of Dallokhel and Abakhel held a protest demonstration near Dallokhel Phatak on Bannu-Mianwali road against prolonged power outages. Led by former nazim Johar Mohammad and Zarwali Khan, the villagers also staged a sit-in on Bannu-Mianwali road and closed it to traffic. Heavy contingent of police also reached the area to avert any untoward incident.

Mr Johar said that prolonged power outages had increased the miseries of people of the villages and adjacent hamlets and the government should take its notice. He said that 18-20 hours daily outages had brought the life to a standstill besides paralysing other activities. He also said that students preparing for matriculation examinations were among the worst-hit.

He demanded of the government to reduce the duration of outages from Aba Shaheed power feeder, saying that the area elders would support Pesco staffers in action against the power stealers and defaulters. The road was opened to traffic after officials of the local administration assured the elders of conveying their demands to the higher authorities.

Published in Dawn March 5th , 2015

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